Even A Broken Nose Can't Stop Ripken From Playing * A Forearm To The Schnoz During A Photo Shoot Can't Halt The Streak.

July 10, 1996|by DON BOSTROM, The Morning Call

Cal Ripken Jr. now has the most famous nose since Pinocchio.

Baseball's all-time "Iron Man" almost had his 2,239 consecutive-game playing streak halted by an injury suffered in the dreaded American League team photo.

"I'll do anything to get back into the interview room," Ripken said.

"At first, I didn't want to say anything about this. It's too embarrassing. I'm even more embarrassed now that I'm here. The last thing I want to be remembered for is the only guy in history to be injured during the team photo."

White Sox reliever Roberto Hernandez lost his balance as the American League squad was filing off a platform in center field.

"When someone stepped off the scaffolding, it tilted the way a table would tilt," Ripken explained. "Roberto got off-balance, he threw a pretty vicious left forearm and I happened to be in the way. Fortunately, he caught me straight on. It made my nose a little crooked."

"We were walking off from the back of the platform and all of a sudden the front of it just caved in," explained Hernandez. "My first reaction, my only reaction, was to try and balance myself. I threw my hands and caught him in the nose with my left forearm. I'm glad it wasn't my elbow. It would have been worse."

"There was plenty of bleeding," Ripken said. "Good stuff. I'm sure I'll have a couple of black eyes tomorrow, but I'll be OK."

"It was bleeding pretty bad. I offered my shirt to stop the bleeding," Hernandez said. "I thought for a minute I was going to have to get a body guard for our next trip to Baltimore. It was a freak accident. I just hope it doesn't end the streak."

The national treasure did go on record saying this may qualify as an alibi.

"I'll know something is wrong if I swing and miss during the game. This is a good excuse if I go 0-for," Ripken said. "I reserve the right to use it if I make an error, too."

As far as freak injuries go, this is at the top of the list. It will certainly be the most celebrated considering's Ripken's track record of being more reliable than the sun.

"If I told you the freak injuries I've had, it would ruin my image," Ripken said.

"I play basketball a lot in the off-season and it's normal to get hit in the face with the ball. Officially, this is the first time I've broken my nose. But I've been hit there before."

Fortunately, Phillies team doctor Phillip J. Marone was on the scene.

Marone is the King of Dealing with the Freak Injury thanks to daily adventures with the Phillies.

"They took me back into the clubhouse to take care of it," Ripken said. "I didn't like the facial expressions of the doctors when they were looking at it. One went `Oooh.' So I knew something wasn't right. When I finally got a look in the mirror, I went `oooh,' too.

"The doctor did a great job. He popped it right back into place," Ripken said. "I don't think my nose was ever that straight any way."

Hernandez almost had to live in infamy as the guy who ended "The Streak."

Roberto's reaction when the horror unfolded?

"He had the same expression he has when he strikes me out to end the game," Ripken said.

"It was a freak thing. There's no way you can blame anyone."

There's a slim chance Ripken's vision could be effected by overnight swelling.

"I've always been a quick healer," he said. "I should be fine for (tomorrow's regular-season) game. I'm planning on being there."

Was there ever a doubt?

Ripken's injury was the lastest in a rash of hurts and boo-boos that have stripped both squads of stars.

Ken Griffey Jr. (hand), Tony Gwynn (Achilles tendon), Greg Maddux (toe), Matt Williams (elbow), Frank Thomas (ankle) were all knocked out of the game and Orioles second baseman Roberto Alomar was doubtful with a bad finger until the last minute.

At least they were wounded in battle.

The team photo horror that confronted Ripken will be a topic for the ages.